Revolution counter



Dec. 15, 1931. F. LUTHl 1,836,178

REVOLUTION COUNTER Filed Nov. 14, 1929 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRIEDRICH LI TTHI, OF BERN, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HASLER A.-G. VORMALS TELEGRAPHENWERKSTATTE VON G. HASLER, F BERN, SW'ITZERLAINI), A CORPORA- TION OF SWITZERLAND REVOLUTION COUNTER Application filed November 14, 1929, Serial No. 407,026, and in Switzerland November 21, 1928.

My invention relates to revolution counters of the kind comprising clockwork to be wound up before each counting operation, which clockwork after being started to work rel leases, by means of a cam, a pawl that controls the counting and indicating mechanism.

In revolution counters known heretofore having a clockwork that is wound up before each counting operation a spring which had to be tensioned by means of a pusher served for driving the clockwork. In order to start the clockwork running normally without loss of time and to overcome resistance met with in releasing the counting and indicating mechanism, this spring had to be relatively powerful. A powerful spring, however, had the defect that the balance wheel of the clockwork was liable to be injured which caused a breakdown in the counter.

This invention has for its object to obviate this defect.

According to the invention there is provided a revolution counter of the kind described, characterized in that the clockwork when being started is driven by two springs, one of which is rendered inoperative after the counting and indicating mechanism is released, whilst the other continues to drive the clockwork until the end of the counting operation.

WVhen the clockwork is driven, after the release of the pusher, by a toothed segment rotatable against the action of a spring by means of the pusher operable from outside the counter, according to a feature of the invention an auxiliary spring extends into the path of movement of the driving limb of a bow spring operative continuously on said tooth segment, the operation of which auxiliary spring is restricted to the first part of the working stroke of the toothed segment.

One embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically represented by way of example in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n Figures 1 and 2 are elevations showing one form of revolution counter according to the invention, some parts being illustrated in 50 different positions and Figure 3 is a section taken on the line IIIIII in Figure 2.

Like reference characters designate like parts in all the views.

011 the drawings, 1 denotes the casing of a revolution counter, in the periphery of which is mounted a driven shaft 2 serving for driving the counting and indicating mechanism, and at right-angles thereto a pusher or plunger 3 for winding up the clockwork is guided to move endwise. The driven shaft 2 imparts its rotation by a known one-direction gearing 4 to adriving wheel 6 which is freely rotatable on a pointer spindle 5 and acts by means of a friction spring, not shown, on a counting or measuring wheel 7 fast on the spindle 5.

The wheel 7 is usually locked by a holding pawl 8. This pawl is controlled by a cam 9 fast on a shaft 10 of an escapement wheel 11. The shaft 10 carries a toothed wheel or pinion 14 operative in one direction of rotation on the escapement wheel 11 by means of a. pawl 12 mounted on wheel 11 and a cam 13. A toothed segment 16 rotatable about a shaft 15 meshes with the pinion 14.

The inner end of the pusher or plunger 3 bears on a projection or cam 17 formed on the segment 16. A pin 18 extends from the latter through a longitudinal hole or slot 19 of the one, e. g. front, plate 20 of the clockwork. Against the pin 18 there bears a bow-shaped driving spring 21 that acts continuously on the segment 16, which spring 21 is attached by a screw 22 to the plate 20 and has one limb heldbetween two pins 23 on said plate 20.

A Z-shaped auxiliary spring 26 is fastened on the plate 20 by means of a screw 24 and two pins 25. The free end of this auxiliary spring 24 which is bent U-shaped, and lies in the slot 19, extends into the path of movement of the free limb of the driving spring 21. A stop 27 on the plate 20 limits the upward movement of the free limb of the auxiliary spring 26 and also its operation on the spring 21 and through this on the segment 16.

The described mechanism operates as follows:

\Vhen the plunger 3 is pushed inwards the segment 16 is rotated out of its position shown in Figure 1 into the position shown in Figure 2 against the action first of the spring 21 and then, of the auxiliary spring 26. When the plunger 3 is released both springs 21, 26 operate simultaneously in starting the clockwork. When the clockwork has'attained its full, regular speed, and the pawl 8 for the.

counting wheel 7 is disengaged from the latter and from the recess 9 of the earn 9 (the resistance of a spring 28'- acting on the pawl 8 and opposing the disengagement of the latter being overcome) the spring 26 comes to j 7 rest against the stop 27 and is rendered 1n- I operative by the latter. Now only the spring 21 drives the clockwork until the movement of the pin 18 is limited by the upper end of the hole 19. Since afterthe clockwork has been started a considerably smaller force suffices for driving the same, the spring 21 need be only just strong: enough for this purpose. In this way the several parts of the clockwork are protected, and after the counting on measuring operation has been performed the clock mechanism will run down more rapidly.

. I claim i V 1. In a counter,the combination of a clockwork,- a toothed segment geared therewlth, a

' plunger arranged torock said segment in one direction, a bow'spring having a limb tending to move said segment in the opposite direction and thereby drive the clockwork, and an auxiliary spring that extends into the path otmovement of said limb during only the latter part ofthe movement of said segment in the first'said direction and the first part of the movement of said segment in the opposite direction.

2. In: COIlEblI'lEEtlOII with a clockwork, a toothed segment geared therewith, means adapted to rock said segment in one direction,

two operatively associated springs arranged to'move said segment in the other direction thereby drivlng the clockwork, and means for rendering one of said springs inoperative after the starting of the clockwork.

In combination with a clockwork, a toothed segment geared therewith, means adapted to rock said segment in one direction,

a spring having a portion to move said seg- .m'ent in the other direction thereby driving the clockwork, an auxiliary spring disposed relative to said first spring so as to assist the same in'starting the clockwork, and means for thereafter rendering said auxiliary spring inoperative a g Signed at Bern,this 1st day'o'f Novem ber 1929,

ramnniorr LUTHI. 

